Ladder



March 20,1945. N L DAHLANDER I 2,371,609

LADDER Filed Feb. 22, 1944 J 54 /0 i QW Q ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 20, 1945 Noel L; 'DahlandenNew Milferd,jPa.-,assignor of mic-half to. Robert J. Earl, Newoanean, Co'nu.

, emif aficn re fl ary 22, mirser iai 'No. 523,412; r

11 Claims. (G1; 228*40) This invention relates to ladders in general and I more especially to single ladders such as Jacobs ladders.

Among the objects or the presentinvention it is aimed to provide an improved ladder having two suspensory elements and a broad tread such as disclosed in applicant/ s coepending application for patent, Ser. No. 500,603,.filed August 31, 1943.

Specifically, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved chain ladder in whicha double wood tread and suspensory elements composed of chainlin'ks are anchored to one another by end disks, known as toe plates or spacer disks, provided with a metal supplemental rung member that wouldleavethe ladder intact with at least skeleton rungs, shouid confiagration occur and some or all of thewood por tions of the rungs be consumed 'or injured.

These and other features, capabilities and ad-:

vantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of specific embodi- Fig'ure 1 is a fragmental {d nt elevation; Fig. 2is an enlarged section on the line 2 -2 of Fi 1.

Fig.3 is a section on the line 34 of F g. 1'. I

Fig. 4. is an enlarged vertical sectionof on e of "the spacer plates.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5+5 of Fig.3.

Fig. 3 6 is a perspective of the supplemental leme'rgency rung member.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental front elevation of a modified, formiof a part of a ladder.

In the embodiment shown the suspensory inembers I and 2 are preferablycomposedbf lock link chain] links connected .at their upperends,

to the lash rings '3 and 4 and intermittently connected to toe plates or spacer disks 5 and 6,

whichin turn are connect'edto the wood rnngt elements I, 8 and supplemental metal rung .elements '9, ll];

. I The spacer disks. 5 B are preferably elliptical in shape, each having its major axis extending vertically, their lateral edges] I, I2. rolled over or curved'as shown toward the rungs and a vertically extending depressed extension I 3 forrned centrally thereof in part servingto stiffen or reinforce the disk 5,, 6, and in part servin'gftoyclear a suspensoryv element l, 2 disposed adjacent thereto., f I

Preferably as shown, the portions of thesuspen'sory elements between thelash rings 3, 1l and thefirst spacer disks 5, B are covered with en- I velopes or socks l4, l5, composed of a non-metal:

1 ments thereof illustratedji n the accompahying I I drawing in which I licsubstance or material-such as cotten fabric or T I the like. In the present instance,,,the upper ends of. the socks 14 and i5 are -secured in place by I pins or rivets such as the rivets 16.; 1 I l The lower ends of the socks flgand. l5 are secured in place by the rivets i'lextending through the clips l8 and then into vtheg, sp acer disks, 6

above the depressed extensions id. 5 Similarly all portions of the suspensoryelements l and .2, Joe- I tweenany two succeeding spacer disks@5,;,6,.are covered with envelopesorsocks such as the socks I9, 20 in whichcase the upper endsjofqthesocks l are connected by the rivets 2| to the clips. 22 and j the lower ends of. the spacerdisks 5, ,6 belowithe, II extensions '13,; and the lower endsnf the socks l9 and 20 are-in turn secured-in'pla'ce by similar" rivets Q te o. c i ssociat d wi lth next succeedinglower spacer disksS, 6., v H l I, II Preferably, in part at least to reduce the weight of a disk 5, 6, the flan ed, 25.;ar bent therefrom to form anchoring ears fQ1; ;QIl8 {of the wooden rung portions ZB and also flanges 2-"! and l 28 cut and bent therefromto form anchoring ears for the wooden rung portion 29. These ears 2,4,

and 21, 28 are secured to theprung portions 2B, 29, respectively, by screws or rivets; 30.

The rung portions 26,29, as shownin Fig; 2 sup,-

plement one another to form a broad rung and are preferably spaced fromone ,anotherfas shown I in the interest of forminga fairly broadtrung.

The space between thewooden portions 26 and29 I preferably slightly exceeds the width of a wooden portion 2'6, 29 and in the present instance -the wooden portions 26, 2,9have their opposing faces I disposed adjacent to the metalportionsgg, Hi of 'l the supplemental metal rungportioni This supplemental metal rung element consists of the rung portions 9 and ID preferably. composed of flat stock about twelve gauge with diminished ends 31 to fit into openings formed in the, spacer I disks 5, ii-to either side of the extension 13. The

diminished portions 31 are just long enough to I extend through and beyond the disks 5,6 so that they protrude from the outer face thereof. The

protruding ends of the diminishedporticns 31 are preferably distorted or burned .toanchorfthe metal'rung elementin position.

In the interest of reinforcing one, another, the:

portions 9 and It] areconnected to one another by the U shaped metal bracket 32 havinga flange 33 welded to the metal portion in with the inter- I tioi19to the other. I I t It is to be noted that thelmetal strips Send [0, see particularly Fig. 3, are narrower than the vening web 35 extending ironi t 1 pordepth of the rung elements 26 and 29. When so positioning the metal strips 9 and I between the wood portions 26 and 29 and making them narrower than the wood portions 26 and 28, the usefulness of the wood rung portions in extremely cold weather will not be impaired and the metal portions 9 and H1 in no way militate against the use of these ladders in extremely cold weather. It is obvious from the co-pending application, that the wooden rung elements as well as the socks l4, l5, l9 and 20 are provided primarily to protect the hands of the users from engaging metal in extremely cold temperatures.

On the other,

hand, due to the fact that the suspensory elee ments I and 2 composed of metal chain links and the emergency metal rung members composed of the strips 9 and II) are directly connected to the spacer disks 5, 6, in case of a fire, even though the socks I4, l5, l9 and and the wooden rung portions 26 and 29 are consumed, there will still remain a usable ladder frame.

In the interest of greater flexibility and prbtection against corrosion, the ends of the socks '14, I5, 19, 20, maybe attached to the suspensory elements I, 2' instead of to the spacer disks 5. As shown in Fig.- 7-, the sock 36 is attached to the link 31 adjacent the disk 38 by a rivet 39 and the clip 40 merely anchors the link 4| to the disk 38 by means of the rivet 42.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim: I

- "1. The combination of two suspensory elements composed of chain links, rungs, each composed of two wood rung portions, spacer disks,

means connecting the links of said suspensory elements, to said disks, flanges bent from said disks and secured to said wood rung portions,

and a supplemental emergency metal rung member for each rung disposed adjacentto said wood rung portions and secured at its ends to said spacer disks.

2. The combination of two suspensory elements composed of chain links, rungs, each composed of two wood rung portions, means including=spacer disks for connecting the wood rung portions to said suspensory elements, the wood rung portions of each rung being spacedfrom I oneanother to form a wide tread, and a supplewood rung portions and secured at their ends to said spacer disks, said metal strips when so secured adjacent to the opposing faces of two wood portions are also removed'from the upper and lower faces of said wood portions to protect the user from engagement with the same during extreme temperatures.

4.- The combination of two suspensory ele ments composed of chain links, rungs,'each composed of two wood rung portions spaced from one another to form a wide tread, means including spacer disks for connecting the wood rung portions to said suspensory elements, a supplemental emergency metal rung member composed of two narrow parallel strips of metal engaging the opposing faces of the two wood rung portions of a rung and secured at their ends to said spacer disks, and a U shaped bracket connecting the two strips to one another at their middle to serve as a reinforcement, the edges of the metal strips being removed from the upper and lower faces of the wood rung portions and when disposed in the space between the two wood rung portions being ready for use in case of a fire and yet not in any way interfering with the use of the wood rung. portions in extreme temperatures where it is dangerous for the user to engage the exposed metal portions.

5. The combination of two suspensory elements composed of chain links, rungs, each composed of two wood rung portions spaced from one another to form a wide tread, means including spacer disks for connecting the wood rung portions to said suspensory elements, a supplemental emergency metal rung member composed of two narrow parallel strips of metal engaging the opposing faces of the two wood rung portions of a rung and secured at their ends to said spacer disks, a U shaped bracket connecting the two strips to one another at their middle to serve as a reinforcement, the edges of the metal strips being removed from the upper and lower faces of the wood rung portions and when disposed in the space between the two wood rung portions being ready for use in case of a fire and yet not in any way interfering with the use of the wood rung portions in extreme temperatures where it is dangerous for the user to engage the exposed metal portions, clips, links of said suspensory elements secured between said clips and said spacer disks, and rivets for anchoring said clips in place.

6. The combination of two suspensory elements composed of chain links, rungs, each composed of two wood rung portions spaced from one another to form a wide tread, means including spacer disks for connecting the wood rung portions to saidsuspensory elements, a supplemental emergency metal rung member composed of two narrow parallel strips of metal engaging the opposing faces of the two wood rung portions of a rung and secured at their ends to said spacer disks, a U shaped bracket connecting the two strips to one another at their middle to serve as a reinforcement, the edges of the metal strips being removed from the upper and lower faces of the wood rung portions and when disposed in the space between the two wood rung portions being ready for use in case of a fire and yet not in any way interfering with the use of the wood rung portions in extreme temperatures where it is dangerous for the user to engage the exposed metal portions, clips, links of said suspensory elements secured between said clips and said spacer disks, rivets for anchoring said clips in place, and non-metallic envelopes enclosing said suspensory elements.

7. The combination of two suspensory elements composed of chain links, rungs, each composed of two wood rung portions spaced from one another to form a wide tread, means including spacer disks for connecting the wood rung portions to said suspensory elements, a supplemental emergency metal rung member 'composed of two narrow parallel strips of metal engaging the opposing facesof the two wood rung portions of a rung and secured at their ends to said spacer disks, a U shaped bracket connecting the two strips to one another at their middle to serve as a reinforcement, the edges of the metal strips being removed from the upper and lower faces of the wood rung portions and when disposed in the space between the two wood rung portions being ready for use in case of a fire and yet not in any way interfering with the use of the wood rung portions in extreme temperatures where it is dangerous for the userto engage the exposed metal portions, clips, links of said sue-- disks and secured tosaid wood rung portions,

a supplemental emergency metal rung member for each rung disposed adjacent t said wood pensory elements secured between said clips and said spacer disks, rivets for anchoring said clips in,place, fabric envelopes enclosing, said suspensory elements to protect the user from contact with the metal portions thereof in extreme temperatures, and rivets anchoring the ends of the envelopes to the links of the suspensory elements.

8. The combination of two suspensory ele 9. The combination of two suspensory elements composed of chain links, rungs, each composed of two wood rung portions, spacer disks, means connecting the links of said suspensory elements to said disks, flanges bent from, said rung portions and secured at its ends to said spacer disks, clips, links of said suspensory elements secured between said clips and said spacer disks, rivets -for anchoring said clips in place, fabric envelopes enclosing said suspensory elements" to protect the user from contact with the metalportions thereof in extremetemperatures, and rivets anchoring the ends of the envelopes to the links of the suspensory elements. 1 l0.-The combination of tw suspensory elements composed of chain links, rungs, each rung including a plurality of rung portions composed of a material such as wood, means including spacer disks for connecting the rung portions to said suspensory elements, the rung portions of each rung being spaced from one another to form a wide tread, and a supplemental emergency metal rung member for each rung disposed ad,-

jacent to said rung portions and secured at its ends to said spacer disks.

11. The combination of two suspensory elements composed of chain links, rungs, each rung including a plurality of rung portions composed of a material such as wood, means including spacer disks for connecting the rung portions to said suspensory elements,,the.rung portions of user, the ends of said supplemental rung member being secured to said spacer disks,

- NoE'L L. DAHLANlJER. 

